WinnCos. has completed Washington, D.C.’s largest community solar project, which aims to reduce energy bills for low-income residents across the state. Solar for All, a program of the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), will be providing the benefits of solar electricity to 100,000 low-income households in D.C. and reduce energy bills by 50 percent by 2032. The DOEE awarded WinnCos. a $1.3 million grant from the program, in which the firm then installed a 651 KW (DC) community renewable energy facility on the roofs of Atlantic Terrace Apartments.

The clean energy from the rooftop solar panels will be fed into the District’s utility grid through net metering. The savings will then be passed back to qualified low-income residents through credits reflected on their utility bills. WinnCos. first acquired Atlantic Terrace in 1982 and has managed the property since then. Located at 4319 Third St. NE, the 195-unit community was constructed in 1964 and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units, ranging from 650 to 950 square feet. Residents have access to amenities such as a community room, playground, laundry facilities and private balcony/patios. The solar installation at Atlantic Terrace happened as the company was finishing up its $69 million rehabilitation at the property and its sister asset, Atlantic Gardens. The project included modernizing 303 apartments while preserving both as Project-Based Section 8 housing for 750 residents.

Atlantic Terrace solar rooftops

“Community solar projects prove that solar is not just a luxury for those that can afford their own panels, but that solar can also work for renters living in multifamily housing,” said Darien Crimmin, vice president of energy and sustainability, WinnCos. “This project will benefit nearly 200 income eligible households over the next 15 years, helping to create jobs, improve local air quality and showcase the success of the Solar for All Program for District residents. WinnCos. will continue working with DOEE and Solar for All to expand the District’s solar capacity and provide the benefits of solar energy to local communities, helping residents save up to $500 a year.”

Over the past 10 years, the company has invested more than $50 million in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across its affordable housing portfolio. WinnCos. plans on bringing additional community solar projects online throughout D.C., in partnership with United Planning Organization.